Post 109 explodes in ninth

Post 109 detonated its own fireworks in the ninth inning on Tuesday.

Clinging to a 2-run lead in the top of the ninth inning, Gaffney sent 16 batters to the plate and scored 11 runs in a 17-5 win over Union.

Spencer Epps and Bubba Wright each drove in two runs and John Michaels had a pair of hits in the ninth inning.

The Indians, who beat Inman 7-1 on Monday, improve to 10-4 and will clinch second place with another Inman loss.

Jake Watson went seven innings to pick up the win. Bobby Jackson relieved Watson and earned a save after facing the potential-tying batter in the eighth.

Wright had a single and double and drove in a team-high five runs. Jackson had four hits, while Dylan Jolley, Lee Gerwick, Michaels and Michael Hughey all had two hits.

"A win is a win and that's the most important thing," Gaffney coach Jeff Osment said.

Union squandered a rare opportunity to beat its rival after building a 4-0 lead after five innings. But Post 109 scored six runs in the sixth to go ahead for good.

McCrae Norton and Michaels each walked and Parsons singled to load the bases before Jackson and Gerwick each had 2-run singles in the sixth inning. Hughey had an RBI and Wright knocked in another run on a groundout.

Against Inman, Jason Beirshenk tossed a complete game to earn the win.

It's the third win of the season for Biershenk against Inman. He has an ERA of 0.72 in those games.

"Jason has done a great job for us," Osment said. "He threw strikes and you can do a lot of good things when you throw strikes."

The teams entered the game with identical 9-4 marks.

Gaffney jumped on top with three runs in the third by taking advantage of four walks and a hit batter.

Michaels capped the scoring with a 2-run single in the ninth for Post 109.

Inman scored its lone run in the third inning.

Gerwick had three hits, a stolen base and three runs scored for Post 109.

Gaffney wraps up the regular season today with another trip to Union. Dustin Byars will get the start.